When the internationally renowned designer Janice Ashby left the corporate world to found <a href="http://www.ecoafricasocialventures.org/ECO_AFRICA_PAPERCRAFT/HOME_PAGE.html">EcoAfrica Social Ventures</a> - a unique <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papermaking">paper-making</a> venture that empowers Zimbabwean women - she never looked back. Several years down a rocky road that has involved two recessions, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zimbabwean_cholera_outbreak">cholera outbreak</a>, and a significant move, she still boasts one of the most socially-responsible product lines on the planet. We first met Janice in New York in 2008 when EcoAfrica was just getting off the ground, and since then we've seen her and the women she has trained turn weeds and t-shirt clippings into gorgeous paper crafts. Today we caught up with her again in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Town">Cape Town, South Africa</a> to find out how EcoAfrica has evolved.

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

This is the most unusual envelope and paper set you'll ever see.

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

This closeup shows the extraordinary texture that got Janice so excited in the beginning

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

We love that the materials are completely recycled - so that mitigating landfill waste and getting rid of annoying weeds equals a job opportunity

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

The colors come from t-shirts manufactured locally in Zimbabwe

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

These dolls all come with an inspiring story -- much like the women who make these extraordinary products.

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

The notebooks are incredibly durable, but almost too cute to use.

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

At the moment, EcoAfrica employs a core team of 25 people

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

Janice is a stickler for detail and her products definitely shine as a result.

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

This is what the raw paper looks like before it is transformed into cool crafts.

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

These previously unemployed ladies are busy making handmade paper

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

Janice poses with part of the EcoAfrica team in Zimbabwe

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EcoAfrica Social Ventures' Handmade Paper by Janice Ashby

When the internationally renowned designer Janice Ashby left the corporate world to found EcoAfrica Social Ventures - a unique paper-making venture that empowers Zimbabwean women - she never looked back. Several years down a rocky road that has involved two recessions, a cholera outbreak, and a significant move, she still boasts one of the most socially-responsible product lines on the planet. We first met Janice in New York in 2008 when EcoAfrica was just getting off the ground, and since then we've seen her and the women she has trained turn weeds and t-shirt clippings into gorgeous paper crafts. Today we caught up with her again in Cape Town, South Africa to find out how EcoAfrica has evolved.